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BETWEEN A 



ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR CLERK 






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WASHINGTON. 

JACOB GIDEON, JR., PRINTEIl. 

1836. 



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Whilst the writer of this Dialogue does not profess entire disinterestedness, he never- 
theless affirms, that he has been induced to publish it, more from his knowledge of the 
strdtened circumstances of many of his brother Clerks, who have large families, than 
from any selfish motives. They sought the places they hold— and received them with 
grateful hearts— and rather than be now thought to complain, many of them would suf- 
fer even " to the death." Perhaps they may think this act indiscreet ; and would 
be unwilling to be considered participant in it. The writer deems it proper, therefore, 
to state, that but few have been made acquainted with the preparation of the Dialogue, 
or his intention to pubhsh it. These considerations however can weigh nothing against 
the truths set forth. Tlie facts are notorious— and the arguments employed, he flatters 
himself, will not admit of easy refutation. 

Members of Congress in particular, are earnesdy, but respectfully, requested to give 
the Dialogue a calm and attentive perusal. 



DIALOGUE. 



—•»>♦« ® ©<«•»- 



Clerk. Do you think an application to Congress, for an increase of 
our salaries, would be attended to, this session ? 

Member. Perhaps we might notice it, as we did a similar one two 
years ago. That you know, we answered by a proposition to lessen 
your salaries. 

C. And what, I would like to know, could be the motive for such 
a proposition ? 

M. Why, it seems to be the general impression, that your salaries 
are too high. 

C. Is such the impression in the city of Washington, with those 
who have a knowledge of the expenses we must necessarily incur ? 

M. no ; it is the impression of our constituents — and, indeed, of 
most of the members of Congress, I think, also. But, for my own 
part, I do'nt know that a salary of 900, or 1,000 dollars is too much, 
for a man who has a very large family. I think, however, you Clerks 
must live extravagantly; for, in my country a man can support a large 
family, in the best style, with i?500 per annum. Some of our Gover- 
nors get but ^1,000 — and here you say that a salary of iSSll50 — or even 
5^1400 is not enough for a common Clerk. 

C. I am aware you are from the West. I have lived there myself 
— S200 per annum, there, covered all my expenses, including horse- 
keeping. I have boarded in first rate village taverns, for iSl,50 per 
week — and again, I have paid in Cincinnati, the same amount per da3^ 
But here, you know, boarding is not to be got on as easy terms as in 
the villages of Ohio : they who have families here, are subjected to ex- 
penses of which people in the country have no idea. 

M. Why, my dear sir, living must be cheap here, where so many 
boarding houses can afford to board us for eight, and ten dollars per 
week, and do nothing at all for about one half the year, and feed us on 
the very best the market affords. This you know makes the regu- 
lar board per year, at four and five dollars per week. 

C. No one who re)ifs a house, can afford to do such a business. 
No house that undertakes it can sustain itself for three years. But, 
pray sir, do you tiiink your per diem too much ? 



M. Well, I can't say that I do ; but many people do think so. It 
was proposed, nevertheless — in order to gratify the people — to reduce 
our per diem also, one fourth. 

C. And that of the poor Clerks, who now do not get half as much 
as you, one third. Now sir, were the people convinced that your per 
diem is not sufficient to support you in the best style, do you not think 
they would rather it should be increased than diminished ? 
M. Unquestionably. 

C. Well then; your pay is undoubtedly no just compensation for 
the sacrifices many of you must make, in coming to Congress — to say 
nothing about the expense of electioneering — but the people have not 
yet thought it politic, tho' perhaps they will, to make compensation for 
the sacrifices their representatives make to serve them ; deeming the 
honor and distinction, and the opportunity afforded of gratifying a lau- 
dable ambition, amply equivalent. They are willing to pay, at least, 
all the expenses of their servants, actually incurred during the time they 
are employed. They are willing too, when they have all their time 
and services, to afford both them, a7id those depending on their exer- 
tions, ample support, and in a style corresponding with the nature of 
their service. To this, I venture to say, you have never heard the 
most rigid economist object. Now sir, we do not pretend to have made 
sacrifices, lor which compensation is required. All we ask, is, a de- 
cent support for ourselves and families. And if Congress can be made 
sensible that the present salaries are not sufficient with rigid economy 
— what should hinder them, as representatives of the people, from 
granting a sufficiency ? 

M. But, my dear sir, there are thousands willing to take your pla- 
ces for less money — good Clerks too ; and besides, the Clerks' salaries 
make a heavy item in the expense of Government. 

C. I doubt not thousands of persons could be got to take your places 
also, and for half yonv pay. Bui who can doubt the incompetentcy of 
such persons ? The very fact of their willingness to undertake the ser- 
vice for less, betrays either unfitness for it, or total ignorance of the ex- 
penses of the place, in less than a year — tho' competent as Clerks — 
they would find it impossible to get along. Many who now ask more 
— myself among them — would, through ignorance of the expense, have 
accepted their appointments for less than they get. And should every 
one of us be dismissed to-morrow, our successors would very soon find 



out what we have discovered, and would feel the same necessity that 
we feel ; and i/ou would find the new half-starved swarm more trouble- 
some than the old, which is more than half satisfied. As to what we 
cost the Government, let us see how much it is, and what proportion of 
the total expenditure. The receipts into the Treasury last year, ex- 
ceeded ^28,000,000 and the expenditures ^18,000,000— leaving in the 
Treasury, a balance of more than ^10,000,000. There are about 300 
Clerks in all the Departments in Washington, costing the nation a lit- 
tle over i^300,000 — one ninety-third part of the revenue, and less than a 
sixtieth of the expenditures. Now, is not this an item too trifling to 
arouse the grave deliberation of the representatives of a mighty nation ? 
And is it not a strange economy, to spend nearly as much in debating 
the question, as was proposed to be wrung from the worst paid officers 
of the Government, only to be added, as a mere drop to the ocean, to 
an enormous balance at the close of the year. Indeed sir, we can 
scarcely regard your proposition as any thing more than a feint, to 
frighten us from pressing, in future, our applications for decent support 
for our families. But we know that we ask no more than is just. It 
is perfectly within your power to arrive at the truth — and we court en- 
quiry ; and if, on a fair investigation, you find our assertions false, for 
one, I will not complain at being dismissed as unworthy of the station 
I occupy. 

M. You ought to curtail your expenses. 

C. Pray, how would you have us live.'' 

M. You should live plentifully, and like gentlemen, but not extra- 
vagantly. 

C. We wish no more. Our style of living, you know, is regula- 
ted by those around us — our associates. The nature of bur employment 
causes some degree of intimacy with the highest salaried officers, and 
other citizens of the first standing. You would not havens appear 
before them, or even at home — in the costume of out-door day 
laborers. 

M. Surely not. You must live like the rest — not indeed, like the 
Secretaries. What I mean is, you must not live in a large house — 
your furniture must be very plain — you must have no centre-tables — ' 
no gilt looking-glasses — no sofas — no jforie pianos, and the like of that. 
You must not wear the best cloth, or shoes, or hats, and your wives 
and daughters must not wear silk, and the like — calico is good enough 



for any of them. Then again, you must not eat turkey, except om 
Christmas day, nor canvas-backs at all — nor the best butter, nor eggs, 
during winter, and the like. But, I imagine you are all too extrava- 
gant. I can't see why it should cost so much more to support a family 
here, than in my country. 

C. Permit me to say, with deference, the reason is most obvious; 
and I am sure you will presently perceive it. What, suffer me to ask, 
do you have to pay, in the West, for the principal articles which we 
are obliged to purchase daily for our tables ? 

M. For beef, about I2 cts. per pound; bacon, 3 to 6 cts.; chickens, 
50 to 75 cts. per dozen; eggs, 4 to 6 cts. ; butter 6 cts. per pound ; flour, 
jS3,50 to ®4 per barrel ; corn meal, 25 cts. per bushel ; potatoes, 25 
cents, &c. &c. 

C. How much would you gllow a small family per day — say mas- 
ter, mistress, two children, 6 or 8 years old, and two servants? No 
family can do with less than two servants. 

M. For six persons, I would allow 3 pounds beef ; 1 chicken ; 
1 pound bacon ; I egg ; 5 pound butter ; 3 pound flour ; 2 qts. Indian 
meal ; ^ peck potatoes, and two small dishes of other vegetables — 
all which, in my country, would cost about 20 or 22 cents. 

C. Do you consider this as little as they should be allowed ? 

M. Yes ; I think it a very moderate allowance. To tell you the 
truth, to allowance folks thus, in my country, would be like half-star- 
ving them. 

C The same, in the city of Washington, would cost — the year 
round — at least @1,25 ; and you have said nothing about sugar and cof- 
fee, tea, &c., salt and pepper, and lard, and a thousand little nameless 
things, necessary in cooking. You must know that beef is 8 to 12 
cents per pound ; bacon, 12 to 15 cts.; chickens, 25 to 50 cts. each ; 
eggs, 25 to 50 per dozen ; butter, 25 to 62^ per pound ; flour, 4 cts. 
per pound, by the barrel ; Indian meal, 75 to 90 cts. per bushel ; tur- 
keys, (but these we must not eat) 62^ cts. to ^1.50 each; and canvas- 
back ducks, ^1.50 to ^2,00 per pair. 

I will ask you another question. Would you allow him to live in a 
house with four rooms, and convenient to the office — that is, within a 
mile, or a mile and a half of it — would you allow him and his wife 
together ^150 per year for clothes, and ^50 for each of the children, 
and any thing for physician and apothecary — iov peto rent and ordina- 
ry church contributions ? 



M. Certainly, all these things are indispensable — and the allow- 
ance for clothing appears too small. 

C. Well, now let us sum it all up — and if you do not agree to 
vote for an increase of our salaries, I shall set you down as an incor- 
rigible man. 

JExpenses for one year. 
House witli four rooms, and convenient to the office, - - - - $200 00 
Table, including bread, and excluding groceries, ..... 455 00 

Groceries $3 per week (as little as possible,) 156 00 

Milk, one pint four cents, and half a pint cream six and a quarter, per day, 37 00 

Clothing for the four 250 00 

Schooling the two children, including books, stationary, &.C. - - - 60 00 
Fuel, for the kitchen and one fire only for the family, 20 cords pr. annum ^t 

$5 — sawing and packing same at 50 cts pr. cord, - - . -110 00 

Servants wages — $8 per month, for both, 96 00 

Church dues, &c, -----15 00 

Physician and Apothecary, - - - - ... . . oOOO 

Taxes on furniture assessed at — say $400 - 5 00 

Wear and tear and breakage of furniture, is equal at least to the interest on 

the assessed value, say, - - . - - - - - .25 00 

$1,460 00 



This estimate, be it remembered, is made for a family of but four 
whites — whereas, the families of the clerks consist, generally of twice 
that number. 

On this estimate, we must never taste turkey, or canvas-back ducks 
— never have any kind of desert or any delicacy whatever — The chil- 
dren may daily importune us, but we must have no straw-berries, 
cherries, peaches, or other summer fruit — no apples, nuts, West-In- 
dia fruit, or confectionary, in winter — here nothing is allowed for an 
increase of family or extra expense of a marriage or funeral ; nothing 
for additional expenses accruing from growth of children — " The pa- 
rents cannot read for instruction or amusement, either books or papers 
— none of the rites of hospitality can be extended — no act of charity 
performed — no relaxation or recreation enjoyed — no excursion for 
health." Our sons cannot have a liberal education, or our daughters 
ordinary accomplishments. 

Have you not a friend or acquaintance, a resident here, on whose 
word you can rely? — Show him this estimate, and he will assure you 
it is true. 

M. Why, this is a very different result, indeed from what I expect- 
ed — and the statement appears to be reasonable. According to this, 
you aught to have at least jg 1,500. 



8 

C. So thought Congress respecting their own Clerks, when they 
fixed their salaries, and I have yet to discover a reason for the distinc= 
tion. What Clerk, permit me to ask, whose salary was less than 
jgl,400 ever died and left his family in independent circumstances ? 
Such a thing is impossible. Generally they are left destitute — and his 
little estate — some five or six hundred dollars worth of furniture, is 
loaded with debt. His wife with a helpless family of children is driv- 
en to the dernier resort of the wretched — keeping boardinghouse — a 
business already overdone and monopolized by others, many of whom 
have been compelled to bring it in aid of their small salaries. Even 
they who get the highest salaries leave little when they die. Some- 
times, from goodness of heart, or fellow feeling, they lend their names 
to relieve a distressed brother clerk from embarrassment incurred from 
dire necessity — and if, in those cases, the principal escape the insolvent 
laws, both estates are swallowed up when death overtakes them ; and 
both families are left as strangers in a heartless world. — But were 
things otherwise, were the clerks in circumstances comparatively easy, 
many of them from their talents and acquirements might be useful 
members of society, instead of wasting their lives in anxiety for daily 
subsistence ; — and when they die, might leave something, at least to 
pay their funeral expenses— and save the bereaved family the double 
torture of losing a husband and father, and of not knowing where to 
look for the next day's provision. The life of a clerk sir, is a contin- 
ued series of anxieties for the present — and of the most gloomy fore- 
bodings, without a ray of hope to cheer him, for the future. 

M. This is a sad picture, it is true, but your salaries are better than 
those of the clerks in general in our cities, and why cannot you live as 
well as they ? 

C. In the first place, the comparison is not fair. Those are prin- 
cipally merchants clerks, who are young single men. But whenever 
they become heads of families, you find them taken into partnership 
with their former employers, or doing business on their own account, 
or in some extensive counting house as head clerk, at @1500 or §2000 
per annum. Moreover, if we were in those cities instead of Wash- 
ington, we would not need so much. But it would be more just to 
compare us to the clerks of your courts — your registers of wills, and 
the like — and if you compare their expense of living with ours, you 
will find that their salaries are more than equal to twice the amount 
of ours. 



M. But you are a single man and should be contented with a 
thousand or twelve hundred dollars. 

C. That I am a single man is to be charged to circumstances, not 
to disposition. The salaries of the clerks in general are a sovereign 
antidote against all matrimonial inclinations. The romantic days of 
early youth, when fancy pictures " love in a cottage" the most delec- 
table of all things, cannot have passed away from him who can haz- 
zard matrimony, in this place, with but iglOOO per annum. The num- 
ber of single men in office here, is, I believe, comparatively small, but 
many of them have a charge, for which they are bound to provide — 
forming a family as large as that of many a married man. Instead of 
employing all single men, as some Members of Congress would do — 
I think you aught rather to encourage marriage, as a great means of 
promoting the morals and happiness of society, and the strength and 
prosperity of the nation. I would give to every clerk a sufficiency for 
himself and a specific annuity in addition, for every one he should be 
obliged to support besides. No clerk, I apprehend, would live single 
thro' choice. It is his cramped circumstances alone, that forbids him 
to fulfil one of the great designs of his creator, and that rob him of 
more than half his value to the world. You would not think of giving 
less than ®800 or ^1000 to any bachelor who has not a dependent up- 
on earth, and it is little enough for him, because his boarding and 
washing, fire, lights and boot cleaning will cost him ^350, to say no- 
thing of the continued appliances to his pocket for benevolent objects 
— and does not common justice dictate, that two hundred dollars, one 
at least, should be added for each dependent ? 

M. Indeed I am almost converted, and persuaded to advocate your 
memorial. But why do you not deal for cash, and purchase the prin- 
cipal articles necessary for your support, by the quantity, and in sum- 
mer when every thing is cheaper ? this would be a great saving. 

C. They who have plenty can do this, and then they have an 
abundance. But we, for the want of a few dollars ahead, are compelled to 
run in debt, and even, frequently, to anticipate the receipt of our sala- 
ries by giving drafts on our pay agents; and in raising a small sum in 
this way to meet an emergency, we have to pay five or six per cent. 
for a single month. And thus for want of a small sum in hand we 
lose those many and great advantages of vi^hich you speak. It should 
be remembered too, that a salary of ^1000 now is not as much as iSSOO 

2 



10 

was at the time when the salaries were established. Then every thing 
was comparatively cheap — nevertheless, no one in those days — Mo' the 
Treasury then was poor — thought the clerks received too much for a 
decent living. But the annual session of Congress has, by degrees caus- 
ed an enhancement of the prices of all things here, at least one fourth. 

M. Your reasoning appears to be just, and your case a hard one — 
But is there no way to curtail your expenses, and to come down to a 
more humble style of living, and yet maintain your standing in so- 
ciety } 

C. If you would improve our domestic economy, you must first 
set us an example at home. You must commence with yourselves 
and the servants of the people who occupy the highest stations; you 
must bring down the President and Secretaries, from modern elegance 
to that simplicitj'^ which characterized the ancient republics. In- 
stead of palaces and glittering furniture and splendid equipages, and 
luxurious tables groaning under plate and every variety of viands to 
please the palate and the eye — they must live under humble roofs, 
have none but plain and useful furniture, walk the streets or ride in 
omnibuses as other people, and, like the elder Cato and your thousand 
dollar clerks, live on turnips alone, or roast potatoes. And do the 
people require this? By no means. 

But what, I would like to know, would the people gain, were we 
all brought down thus to the condition of canal diggers, and our sala- 
ries reduced even one half, or more ? would one cent of it go into the 
people's pockets ? No. Would the people be exempt from paying it 
into the treasury ? No. No one wdl contend that the burdens of the 
people would be lightened a single grain by it; no one will contend 
that the revenue would be reduced one cent, the' the salaries of the 
clerks and all other public officers in Washington, were reduced tw© 
thirds — nor would a cent be added to it were their salaries raised in a 
like degree. No, the people would still have to pay the money into 
the Treasury, and there it would lie, year after year, an unexpended 
balance enjoyed by no one, but some Bank. Whereas, when it is paid 
to the officers of Government, it is immediately paid out again for pro- 
visions, &c. and thus returns to the pockets of those who paid it into 
the Treasury, and so passes into the circulation. Yes sir, that por- 
tion of the products of the farmer and the mechanic which would be 
purchased by the officers of Government if their salaries would admit 
of it, must, under the niggardly policy of half paying them, rot upon 



11 

their hands, or never be produced— axiA hundreds of labourers and ser- 
vants go unemployed. A Government should adopt no such system 
of finance; truly it is, as Col. Crocket once remarked ^^ fishing for 
minnows with a pin hook'^ whilst the great Leviathans sport around 
you unmolested. Let the Government pay its officers well, give them 
enough to support their families in a plain decent manner, and with 
economy to save something for their heirs, and your work will be well 
done. As the rain returns again to the clouds, so the money you thus 
expend always goes back in due time to the hands that first earned it. 
Every part should contribute to the whole, and the whole to every part. 
M. Why, some may ask, should the clerks, &c. live in any better 
stj'le than mechanics and labourers ? 

C. Our style of living is not equal to that of many mechanics in 
our city, and we are far behind them in independence. And pray, it 
might be asked, why should Members of Congress live any better? 
Is it because you represent the sovereign peopWi This is a much 
stronger reason, T apprehend, why you should live like the majority of 
your constituents, and have one dollar, instead of eight dollars, per 
day, and thus set an example of republican simplicity and moderation. 
But, who are these clerks? they are servants of the people, as important 
in their places as any officers of government ; or, as the Members of 
Congress themselves. The chief difference between them and you is, 
that they are servants and you agents — that you have the fixing of 
their salaries and their pay as well as your own, and you see proper 
to give them three or four dollars a day and yourselves eight. It 
should be remembered too, sir, that for the most part, they are the 
descendants of those patriots and heroes of the Revolution, who, in 
achieving our nation's independence, that you might sit unmolested in 
yon noble edifice, sacrificed their comforts, their fortunes, their health, 
vigor of youth and manhood — every thing. Yes, some of these very 
clerks, can say of those glorious achievments and of those perils and 
sacrifices- ^^ we saw it all, and part we did ourselves ."^ Generally 
they have been well educated — were brought up in comfortable cir- 
cumstances and the best society — some to the learned professions, some 
in extensive counting houses, &c. Some, once were Congressmen, and 
some Congressmen may yet be clerks. Such is the character of those 
who ask of you a decent support for their families; enough to educate 
their children suitably for the stations they must occupy in society and 



12 

to enable them to provide something for their helpless widows and or- 
phans in the event of death. This is all, and this, they conceive to 
be no more than an equitable compensation for their services. Scarce- 
ly one of us has not some friend or acquaintance in Congress who can- 
testify to our merits, and who has recommended us to office, and would 
wish us to have enough to support our families in a decent style. Is 
it not the case as respects yourself? 

M. Yes, it is. 

C. Send for him then, if you have confidence in his declarations, 
and satisfy yourself of the truth of what I have said. Ask the heads of 
Departments — of bureaux, &c. — ask private citizens. Tho' we ask 
additional compensation for ourselves, we would not hesitate to ask it for 
the places we occupy were we sure of leaving them to-morrow. 

M. You have convinced me, I will vote for an increase, if a bill 
should be reported. But why do not the heads of the Departments 
present your case to Congress and ask for an increase of compensation 
for you ? I hey aught to know whether you have enough or not, and 
you may rely upon it, if they would unite and state to Congress that 
your pay is not sufficient, whatever addition they would ask in reason 
would be granted. Are you aware of any objection they have to 
making application for you? or do they really think you have enough? 
This is to be inferred from their silence. What say you ? 

C. He that is full knows not the pain of hunger — and the happy 
rarely sympathize with the wretched. A servant may be kind to his 
fellow servants, but raised above them — if he is not positively cruel, 
the enjoyment of his own prosperity seldom fails to blot out forever 
from his remembrance, alike their merits and their necessities. 



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